ClariFi Decision Engine · Agentic AI
Books and tax from $199/mo. CFO support from $349/mo.
AI-native finance, priced by stage, not by the hour. ClariFi and a finance team whose experts sign off on every number, all scaling with your stage. Go live in 2 business days. No long-term commitment, 45-day free trial. No credit card needed.
StartupCFO pricing in brief: Launch costs from $199/mo and includes monthly close, GAAP financial statements, financial intelligence, compliance tracking in all 50 states, and 50% off preparation of 1 federal + 1 state tax return. Foundation costs from $349/mo and adds Spend Guardrails, 13-week cash forecasting, a financial model, unit economics, runway and spend signals, cohort analysis, and CFO support as needed (about 1 hour a month). Growth costs from $799/mo and adds a full fractional CFO (about 3 hours a month), board packs, budgeting and the full planning and modeling suite, cap table and 409A coordination, fundraising support, and direct ClariFi access with Ask ClariFi and the MCP server. Our team works in ClariFi on every plan; direct ClariFi access is included in Growth, available as a paid add-on on Foundation, and not available on Launch. Payroll is a $50 per W-2 employee per month add-on on Foundation and Growth; filing fees and additional states are extra; plans are month-to-month.
Where is your finance function today?
Three tiers, three transformations
Each tier solves a different problem at a different stage. Most companies don't need every tier on day one, but most need to move through all three over time. Pick the one that matches where the pain is.
Modular by design. While we deliver an integrated stack, you choose as much as you need for your startup stage. Start at Launch, upgrade when the next problem comes up. No long-term commitment, no migration friction.
Launch: escape the books
You're still doing your own books, or paying someone who isn't doing them right. Monthly close drags. Tax deadlines surprise you. Start here.
Foundation: integrate finance + ops
Books are clean but spreadsheets don't agree. FP&A lives in someone's Google Sheet. You want signals, not just reports. This is the upgrade.
Growth: get in the strategy room
Board pack on demand. Scenario modeling live. A CFO who walks into the strategy meeting because they already know the answers. End state.
Pricing Plans
Launch
45-day free trial, no credit card, no long-term commitment
For pre-seed founders who need clean books and Tax & Compliance Autopilot from day one.
1-2 person team
Core financials + Tax & Compliance Autopilot
Best for: Pre-seed founders who need clean books and tax coverage
- Financial statements
- Financial Intelligence
- Monthly close
- Tax & Compliance Autopilot
- 1 state + 1 federal tax prep†
- Document management
30-minute kickoff call, then live in 2 business days.
Foundation
45-day free trial, no credit card, no long-term commitment
For seed-stage startups that need decisions and Spend Guardrails, not just bookkeeping.
2-7 person team
Everything in Launch + Spend Guardrails & CFO support as needed§
Best for: Seed teams needing tighter spend and decision-ready reporting
- 1 state + 1 federal tax prep†
- Spend Guardrails
- CFO support as needed (~1 hr/mo)§
- 13-week cash forecasting
- Financial model
- Invoices & Bills, Contracts
- Operational metrics
- Unit economics
- Runway & spend signals
- Cohort & concentration analysis
- Pricing sensitivity model
- Payroll add-on* ($50/W-2/mo)
30-minute kickoff call, then live in 2 business days.
Growth
45-day free trial, no credit card, no long-term commitment
For Series A to Series B companies that need board packs on demand, full planning and modeling, and a full CFO.
7+ person team
Everything in Foundation + direct ClariFi access, Board Pack Generator, Planning & Modeling suite & a full fractional CFO§
Best for: Series A to Series B teams managing board cadence and fundraising
- Direct ClariFi access + MCP server
- Ask ClariFi: AI analyst with cited answers
- Full fractional CFO for everything below, ~3 hrs/mo§
- 1 state + 1 federal tax prep†
- Budget & planning tools
- Board packs & data room
- Cap table & 409A coordination
- Investor updates & equity comp
- Value creation & goals
- ROI & decision modeling
- Headcount planning
- Fundraising support
- Payroll add-on* ($50/W-2/mo)
30-minute kickoff call, then live in 2 business days.
Custom Projects
Fixed scope · 50% to start, 50% on completion · no long-term retainer
For bespoke finance projects like 409A readiness, pricing model design, tax filing and compliance cleanup, and R&D credit support.
One-off, fixed-scope projects
Expert finance support for high-impact projects with fixed scope and clear deliverables
Best for: One-off strategic projects with clear deliverables
- 409A valuation readiness & coordination
- Pricing model design & sensitivity analysis
- Tax filing cleanup & compliance remediation
- R&D tax credit study support
- Revenue recognition policy setup (ASC 606)
- Financial due diligence support for M&A or fundraising
Scoped on a 30-minute call. Fixed quote before we start.
Launch, Foundation, and Growth include compliance tracking, plus a 50% discount on 1 state + 1 federal tax prep. No long-term commitment.
CFO support is part of your plan
From $349/mo on Foundation, with a full fractional CFO on Growth. Elsewhere, CFO work is often a separate product starting around $1,750/mo, on top of bookkeeping. No funding minimum, and it works with the books you already have: QuickBooks Online, Xero, or Zoho Books.
Not sure which tier?
Book a 15-minute fit call and we'll tell you which one fits your stage, even if the answer is Launch. No prep, no pitch.
What the alternatives cost
$150K-$250K/yr
In-house controller, salary before benefits
$4K-$10K/mo
Typical standalone fractional CFO retainer
From $799/mo
StartupCFO Growth: full CFO, bookkeeping, 50% off tax prep, and direct ClariFi access
A standalone retainer at that level buys 10–40 CFO hours a month and nothing else, and a good share of those hours goes on assembling the numbers. Growth delivers the same output inside a fair-use allowance of about 3 hours§, because the bookkeeping, tax and ClariFi underneath have already done the assembly. Compare the lines you would actually buy.
See the full breakdown in our fractional CFO cost guide.
These plans are built for startups, pre-seed to Series B. Running a non-venture-scale business? Rubric Financial provides one financial stack for non-venture-scale businesses.
2 Business Days
From sign-up to live decisions
$199/mo
Starting price, flat monthly fee
50
States covered
Integrates With Your Existing Stack
Keep the tools you already use. ClariFi syncs the core stack and your team reconciles the rest.
Compare Plans
See exactly what you get at each tier. Benchmarking against the wider market? See what fractional CFO services cost in 2026.
Accounting & Bookkeeping
Financial Statements (GAAP)
Launch
Foundation
Growth
Custom
Monthly Close
Launch
Foundation
Growth
Custom
Accountant Support
Launch
Foundation
Growth
Custom
Document Management
Launch
Foundation
Growth
Custom
Invoices & Bills, Contracts
Launch
Foundation
Growth
Custom
Financial Intelligence & Analytics
Financial Intelligence & KPIs
Launch
Foundation
Growth
Custom
Spend Guardrails & Unit Economics
Launch
Foundation
Growth
Custom
Runway & Spend Signals
Launch
Foundation
Growth
Custom
Cohort & Concentration Analysis
Launch
Foundation
Growth
Custom
Pricing Sensitivity Model
Launch
Foundation
Growth
Custom
Financial Ratios & Working Capital
Launch
Foundation
Growth
Custom
Industry Benchmarking
Launch
Foundation
Growth
Custom
Custom Reports
Launch
Foundation
Growth
Custom
Strategic Finance & CFO
CFO Support§
Launch
Foundation
Growth
Custom
Financial Model
Launch
Foundation
Growth
Custom
13-Week Cash Forecasting
Launch
Foundation
Growth
Custom
Budget
Launch
Foundation
Growth
Custom
Planning & Modeling Suite
Launch
Foundation
Growth
Custom
Headcount Planning
Launch
Foundation
Growth
Custom
Value Creation & Goals
Launch
Foundation
Growth
Custom
Fundraising & Equity
Board Pack Generator & Data Room
Launch
Foundation
Growth
Custom
Cap Table & 409A Coordination
Launch
Foundation
Growth
Custom
Investor Updates & Equity Comp
Launch
Foundation
Growth
Custom
Fundraising Support
Launch
Foundation
Growth
Custom
Tax & Compliance
CPA Support
Launch
Foundation
Growth
Custom
Tax & Compliance Deadline Tracking (all 50 states)
Launch
Foundation
Growth
Custom
Annual Taxes†
Launch
Foundation
Growth
Custom
Tax Filing Cleanup & Remediation
Launch
Foundation
Growth
Custom
R&D Tax Credit Study Support
Launch
Foundation
Growth
Custom
Payroll add-on* ($50/W-2/mo)
Launch
Foundation
Growth
Custom
Cross-border filings (5471, FBAR, PFIC, treaty)
Launch
Foundation
Growth
Custom
Tax resolution & IRS notices
Launch
Foundation
Growth
Custom
ClariFi Access
Direct ClariFi access‡
Launch
Foundation
Growth
Custom
MCP server: connect your own AI assistant
Launch
Foundation
Growth
Custom
*Payroll services are billed at $50 per W-2 employee per month, in addition to base plan pricing. Covers payroll processing, payroll tax filing, year-end W-2 / 1099 generation, and benefits coordination.
†Includes a 50% discount on preparation of 1 state + 1 federal tax return, charged at half our then-current rate. Government filing fees, additional states, and amended returns are not covered by the discount.
§CFO time is covered by a fair-use allowance, so that no single client absorbs the CFO’s week: around 1 hour a month on Foundation and around 3 hours a month on Growth. We do not run a stopwatch on a quick question, and there is no timesheet to approve. Everything listed on Growth, including board packs, planning and modeling, cap table and 409A, and fundraising support, is delivered inside that allowance. That is the point of the stack underneath: bookkeeping, tax and ClariFi take the operational drag off the CFO’s plate, so the hours you are paying for are spent on judgement rather than on assembling the numbers. If your needs settle consistently above it we will tell you, and move the work onto a footing that suits it: a scoped CFO or FP&A project (see Custom Projects), a move up a plan, or hourly work starting at $300/hour. Whichever route, it is agreed with you first. Nothing is billed without your approval.
‡Direct ClariFi access is included in the Growth plan and available on Foundation for an additional fee (not on Launch). The MCP server for your own AI assistant is Growth only. Ask about ClariFi access during your consultation.
Quoted work. Custom Projects and every other service outside a monthly plan fee are quoted in writing before work begins. 50% is due when the Master Service Agreement and Statement of Work are signed, and 50% on completion. If the work items change, we quote the additional fees by email and bill them on a subsequent invoice once you approve. See our terms.
Starting prices for typical startup engagements. Final pricing may vary based on transaction volume, entity complexity, or service scope. Confirmed during your free consultation: no long-term commitment, no surprises.
Limitations apply. Every plan carries the scope, allowances, and exclusions described above and in our Terms. Published prices may change at any time without notice. Clients on an active plan are not repriced without 30 days’ written notice, and the current billing period is always honoured at the agreed price. See Terms.
What Every Plan Includes
No hidden fees. No lock-in. Every plan ships with the essentials.
Financial Intelligence & KPIs
On-demand reporting and 48 KPIs, with AI that explains what moved each number, powered by ClariFi and signed off by our experts.
Your Finance Team
An extension of your team: a bookkeeper and CPA who learn your business on every plan, CFO support from Foundation, and a full fractional CFO on Growth.
Tax & Compliance Autopilot
Federal, state, and franchise deadlines tracked across all 50 states with expert sign-off, plus 50% off preparation of 1 federal + 1 state return.
Monthly Check-In Calls
Regular calls with your finance team to review performance and plan ahead.
Same-Day Email Support
Direct access to your team via email with same-business-day response. Answers when you need them.
No Long-Term Commitment
Change or end your plan month to month. No long-term commitment.
Startup Program Guidance
We help you claim the startup programs and credits that tools like Xero, QuickBooks, Gusto, Ramp, ADP, and Carta offer. You buy directly from each vendor.
What Our Clients Say
“StartupCFO gave us a finance team that feels in-house: ClariFi Decision Engine, a CFO who actually knows our numbers, and we were due-diligence ready in weeks, not months.”
Devi Malladi
Founder & CEO, BlazeOps.AI
Cloud Operations · Seed Stage
“Anyone can pull numbers into a spreadsheet once. The difference is having a system that keeps your metrics current so you can actually be data-driven when choosing the right path for growth.”
Naveen R.
Co-Founder & CTO, Stealth Startup
Enterprise SaaS · Pre-Seed
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does StartupCFO cost?
StartupCFO has three monthly plans: Launch from $199/mo, Foundation from $349/mo, and Growth from $799/mo, billed month-to-month with no long-term commitment and a 45-day free trial. Payroll is a $50 per W-2 employee per month add-on on Foundation and Growth, CFO work above the plan's fair-use allowance starts at $300/hour only with your approval, and one-off work such as 409A readiness or tax cleanup is quoted as a fixed-scope Custom Project.
What's included in each StartupCFO plan?
Launch ($199/mo) includes monthly close, GAAP financial statements, financial intelligence and KPIs, a bookkeeper and CPA, document management, compliance tracking in all 50 states, and 50% off preparation of 1 federal + 1 state return. Foundation ($349/mo) adds Spend Guardrails, 13-week cash forecasting, a financial model, Invoices & Bills and contracts, unit economics, runway and spend signals, cohort and concentration analysis, financial ratios with industry benchmarks, custom reports, a pricing sensitivity model, and CFO support as needed (about 1 hour a month). Growth ($799/mo) adds a full fractional CFO (about 3 hours a month), board packs and a data room, budgeting and the full planning and modeling suite, cap table and 409A coordination, investor updates, fundraising support, and direct ClariFi access with Ask ClariFi and the MCP server. Our team works in ClariFi on every plan; direct access is included in Growth and available as a paid add-on on Foundation.
Is tax preparation included in StartupCFO's price?
Tax preparation is discounted, not included free. Every plan includes a 50% discount on preparation of 1 federal + 1 state tax return, charged at half the then-current rate, plus CPA support and deadline tracking for federal, state, and franchise obligations across all 50 states. Government filing fees, additional state returns, and amended returns are billed separately.
What if I already have an accountant?
We can work alongside your existing accountant or take over entirely. Most clients find that ClariFi plus our finance team replaces their current setup at a lower cost with better outcomes for their startup.
Can I start with Launch and upgrade later?
Absolutely. Most clients start with Launch or Foundation and upgrade as they grow. There are no penalties or migration fees, and your data and history carry forward seamlessly.
What happens when we need our first audit?
We keep your books audit-ready from day one, with GAAP financial statements and clean revenue recognition and stock-comp records. When your board or a lender requires an audit, typically after Series A, we prepare the audit package, answer the auditor's requests, and hand off cleanly to the audit firm you choose. We do not perform audits ourselves.
What accounting software do you support?
We work with the books you already have: ClariFi syncs natively with QuickBooks Online, Xero, and Zoho Books, pulls card spend from Ramp, and syncs your cap table from Carta. KPIs can also sync with a Google Sheet your team already uses. Your accountant reconciles payments, banking, and payroll systems (Stripe, Mercury, Gusto, and others) into the same ledger.
How does the AI actually work?
Agentic AI aids the work. Our experts sign off on every number. In ClariFi, AI drafts the close package for review, flags spend and burn anomalies, tracks tax and compliance deadlines, and, on Growth, answers financial questions in plain English with cited sources, benchmarked against industry standards. Nothing reaches you until our experts have signed off.
How does the 45-day free trial work?
Start your trial with a 30-minute kickoff call and get full access to your plan for 45 days, no credit card required. We onboard you, set up your books, and have your finance team live. If you love it, we confirm your plan and start billing at the end of the trial. If not, walk away, nothing owed.
How quickly can I get started?
Your finance team can be live within 2 business days of signing up. Full book migration typically takes under a week. We handle all the setup; just connect your accounts and we take it from there.
How are cross-border filings and tax resolution priced?
Both are add-ons to any plan, or a one-time project. Neither has published prices. Cross-border forms filed with a tax return (such as Form 5471, 5472, 8938 and PFIC reporting) are quoted with the return; FBAR, transfer pricing, Form 1042 and catch-up filings are quoted after a short call. Tax resolution is quoted after we see the notice. As with all quoted work, 50% of the quoted fee is due when the MSA and Statement of Work are signed and 50% on completion, and any change in the work items is quoted by email and billed on a subsequent invoice once approved. Call us for a quote.
How is payroll priced?
Payroll is a $50 per W-2 employee per month add-on, billed in addition to your base plan. This covers payroll processing, payroll tax filing, year-end W-2 and 1099 generation, and benefits coordination. The headcount count is recalculated as you hire or terminate. If you already use Gusto, ADP, Rippling, or another payroll provider, we'll walk through your specific situation during your free consultation. Coordination scope and pricing depend on what's already in place.
Not ready yet? Everything we teach is free: Guides · Knowledge Base · Free Tools · Templates · Workshops
Ready to Get Started?
Book a call and we'll match you to a plan. Your finance system will be live in 2 business days.
Contract lock-in?
No. Month-to-month on all recurring plans.
How fast to start?
Initial setup begins right after your kickoff call.
Can I switch plans?
Yes. Upgrade or adjust as your stage changes.
45-day free trial, no credit card, no long-term commitment
1. Discovery
30-minute scoping call to confirm goals and timeline.
2. Setup
Data access + kickoff with your finance lead.
3. Delivery
Live outputs in 2 business days for plans, milestone timeline for projects.
Not ready to talk? Grab our free checklist first.
The Startup Finance Readiness Checklist: 40+ action items from pre-seed to Series A.
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